With the intention of establishing collaborative agreements in the area of research in Engineering, members of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (Navsea) in Rhode Island recently visited the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM).

As explained by doctor Pierre J. Corriveau, Navsea Technology supervisor, the visit sought to investigate the possibility of strengthening collaborative ties between both institutions, principally in the aspect of research since there is currently an agreement which allows UPRM students to participate in internships in their establishments.

According to doctor Corriveau, some of the strategies that could form part of this initiative could possibly be visits from UPRM professors to present conferences at Navsea, or to realize their sabbaticals there and even the creation of an exchange program for scientists.

Joint research would be carried out in Electrical, Mechanical, and Chemical Engineering, in the areas of sensors and material sciences, among others, and would be in efforts to improve the maritime defense systems of the United States Army.

The alliance would also be amplified in the educational aspect since it examines the possibility that Navsea specialists could form part of the thesis committees of student’s research in relation with their concentration areas, as explained by doctor José Colucci, Associate Dean of Research in the UPRM College of Engineering.

Navsea provides assistance in terms of conceptualization, research, development and maintenance of the technical systems of the United States Marines.

Alumni Return

Navsea’s delegation led by doctor Corriveau, included eleven members, three of which were graduates of the UPRM: Daniel Pérez, Luis González and María Díaz, the first two graduates of Mechanical Engineering and Díaz of Computer Engineering.

The Alumni noted that they got their jobs working at Navsea through an employment fair of the UPRM Department of Placement and from the educational agreement between both institutions that allows UPRM students to participate in internships in their offices in Rhode Island.

“At the employment fair I got the opportunity to participate in a coop program with them that began in January and went through the summer and I loved the place, I loved the kind of work that I was doing and the freedom that they gave me to work doing what needed to be done, but at the same time was interesting to me,” assured Engineer Pérez, who belonged to the Graduate Class of 2001.

Engineer González, Alumni from the Class of 1997, showed hope that the number of UPRM students that would benefit from these internships and permanent employment would rise with this new business relationship between UPRM and Navsea.

Currently, according to doctor Corriveau, six students from the University are participating in internships in Navsea’s establishments in Rhode Island.

First Chapter of Graduate in the United States

Navsea’s visit to UPRM came about from efforts from the UPRM Alumni Office, directed by Yomarachaliff Luciano, to establish the first chapter of UPRM graduates in the United States.

Luciano, who is special assistant to chancellor Jorge Iván Vélez Arocho in Alumni Affairs and Development, explained that she and the Chancellor traveled to Navsea’s establishment in Rhode Island this past January due to the large quantity of UPRM Alumni who work in the aforementioned federal branch.

“They are over 20 alumni that work for this agency and we had the opportunity to see what they did and where they worked and officially meet with them as the first chapter of Alumni in the United States,” she sustained.

“We want to group together these alumni to keep alive the spirit of the alma mater,” commented Luciano. She added that those interested to obtain more information about this chapter should write toegresados@uprm.edu.

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UPRM chancellor, doctor Jorge Iván Vélez Arocho, gives the welcoming speech to the Navsea delegation during their visit to the University.

Members of Navsea sought to establish collaborative agreements in the area of research in Engineering with UPRM.

The visit lasted two days and during this time presentations and workshops were carried out. Members of the UPRM faculty and Navsea were in charge of these events.